Using lifts during a fire

[philthetube]

Mod Note: Posts #1 - #4 originally in this thread.

The usual NR lifts are not suitable for use in evacuation situations because they have only one power supply so could very easily be incapacitated. Lifts suitable for use in emergency situations have dual power supplies and have greater design involvement to ensure reliability of supply.

The usual advice is to go to the extreme end of a platform where you are less likely to be affected by smoke - which kills a lot more people than fire - because it is normally better ventilated. There are, of course, exceptions to this but it is a general rule.

regardless of power supply you should not use a lift in case of fire, this is because the shaft can act as a chimney

 

[Tio Terry]

regardless of power supply you should not use a lift in case of fire, this is because the shaft can act as a chimney

Not if it is correctly designed. I know of buildings with lifts specifically designed to be suitable for use during a fire.

 

[Clip]

regardless of power supply you should not use a lift in case of fire, this is because the shaft can act as a chimney

This isnt true in this day and age - the building I work in has 2 sets of emergency of emergency lifts which are specifically designed to be used in a fire for disabled people.

 

[3rd rail land]

This isnt true in this day and age - the building I work in has 2 sets of emergency of emergency lifts which are specifically designed to be used in a fire for disabled people.

Whilst there are lifts that can by design be used in a fire I expect there are very few tower blocks/workplaces that have these installed. I've certainty never seen one, even in building with upwards of 20 floors.

 

[najaB]

Not if it is correctly designed. I know of buildings with lifts specifically designed to be suitable for use during a fire.

The general rule still applies - you shouldn't use a lift in a fire unless: (a) you know for a fact that the lift is a designated emergency lift; and (b) you are unable to use the stairs. If only to leave the lift free for firefighters and/or people with limited mobility.

 

[Tio Terry]

The general rule still applies - you shouldn't use a lift in a fire unless: (a) you know for a fact that the lift is a designated emergency lift; and (b) you are unable to use the stairs. If only to leave the lift free for firefighters and/or people with limited mobility.

Lifts designated as emergency lifts have to be labelled as such and are controlled by either FRS or designated staff in the event of an emergency.

 

[najaB]

Lifts designated as emergency lifts have to be labelled as such and are controlled by either FRS or designated staff in the event of an emergency.

Which just takes us back to the original point - don't use the lifts in case of an emergency.

 

[Clip]

Whilst there are lifts that can by design be used in a fire I epcect tehre are very few tower blocks/workplaces that have these installed. I've certainty never seen one, even in building with upwards of 20 floors.

You would be surprised - even the shard has one.

Granted my building has vulnerable and disabled people in and out all the time but we only have 4 floors.

You probably wouldnt be able to tell anyway as they dont have massive signs on them to deter everyone from using them and ours can I ly be operated by a key on the ground floor.

But theres plenty of them about nowadays

 

[Clip]

Which just takes us back to the original point - don't use the lifts in case of an emergency.

True but the original post this stems from was a post about someone with disabilities

 

[John Webb]

There is a good deal of difference between a lift as part of a footbridge at a railway station, moving generally between two levels only and in an open-air situation, and that required in a building needing to be fire and smoke-resistant for use by the Fire Service and/or evacuating disabled people.
In the latter case two independent power supplies are required as well as siting such lift(s) in a compartmented part of the building. The requirements are set out in the Building Regulations and means of compliance can be found in Approved Document B "Fire Safety" available from the Government's website.

 

[mark-h]

It is also worth noting that when the fire alarm goes off most lifts are programmed to go to a designated floor and stay there with the doors open and the buttons disabled.

If it is a fire service/emergency lift then it can be activated by the emergency services or trained building staff to aid in evacuating people and getting access. An intercom linking a refuge area next to the lift to the ground floor would be used to alert staff to which floors need to have people evacuated from them.

Whilst there are lifts that can by design be used in a fire I expect there are very few tower blocks/workplaces that have these installed. I've certainty never seen one, even in building with upwards of 20 floors.

Most modern commercial buildings over a certain size will have them. They will usually be used as a normal passenger lift when there is not an emergency. They should not be used for carrying goods or rubbish as this could result in them being unavailable when they are needed.

 

[Hadders]

When the BT Tower was built in the 1960s fire regulations had to be amended to allow the high speed lifts to be used in the event of an evacuation.

 

[westv]

When the BT Tower was built in the 1960s fire regulations had to be amended to allow the high speed lifts to be used in the event of an evacuation.

I remember visiting the building before the bomb that led to its closure to the public.

 

[mark-h]

It would be interesting to see the evacuation plan for the GPO/Post Office/BT Tower. There are stairs which have been used by student competitions but they are probably too narrow to quickly evacuate the number of people at the top of the tower (current building regulations require a single escape route to serve 60 people- the stairs in the tower are likely to have less capacity due to their narrow width).

building before the bomb that led to its closure to the public

The restaurant remained open until 1980 when the lease ran out, long after the 1971 bomb. The restaurant was run by Butlins so I suspect the view was far better than the food.